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Social Security Lawyers in Michigan and Benefits

If you have a disability that prevents you from being able to work, contact your disability attorneys of Michigan to see if you may qualify to receive Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not base their disability benefits on age, but rather the medical condition that is preventing you from being able to work. There are two types of disability benefits that you may be able to qualify for:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): those who are disabled and have worked for a certain number of years are eligible for this program

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): those who are disabled or elderly and have few assets or low income are eligible for this program

The following information provided by your disability attorneys of Michigan will go into further detail about SSDI and SSI benefits, and what you need to qualify. If you have any further questions about whether you may qualify or not, contact your disability attorneys of Michigan to schedule your consultation.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

One of the biggest differences between SSDI and SSI disability benefits is that SSDI is part of the official United States Social Security Program, or OASDI (Old Age, Survivors And Disability Insurance Program). SSI is not a part of this same program. In order to be eligible to received SSDI, you need to be disabled and to have built up what are called “work credits.” You can build work credits through your years of working and paying into the OASDI program. How many credits you need in order to be eligible for SSDI can depend on how old you are and when you became disabled. If you are approved for SSDI benefits, then your payment amount will be determined by what you have earned in the past. Payments average between $1,000-$1,200 although it can be higher in some cases.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a part of the Social Security Administration; however, the state government is a partner in this program as well. Due to this, the amount of benefits you will receive for SSI depends on what state you are in. In order to be eligible to even receive SSI however, there are four criteria from the SSA that must be met. Those criteria are as follows:

You must have a low monthly income. About half of what you earn per month is counted. What you earn cannot be higher than a certain amount. Depending on what state you are in that amount can vary between $700-$1,400. The state that you reside in will have a lot to do with your eligibility for SSI.

You must be disabled, blind, or over the age of 65.

You must have United States citizenship, or meet some very strict requirements that will be based on your military service, refugee states, or permanent resident status.

Any property that you own must have a value of less than $2,000 for an individual, and $3,000 per couple. This does not include property such as your house or car.

What Is Considered to be Disabled?

In order to qualify for benefits you must be able to prove that you are severely disabled. You must have a medical condition- either mental or physical- that will last at least 12 months and prevent you from being able to do any substantial work that would be considered as “gainful activity.” The first step in being considered disabled is having your doctor make that diagnosis. From there, the SSA will want to have their own doctors review your medical records and do an evaluation. A claims examiner will be assigned to your case and will be the one who determines if your medical condition is severe enough to be considered disabled. If you are not eligible, you have the right to file for an appeal to have your case heard in front of a judge.

Contact Experienced Social Security Lawyers in Michigan

Navigating the Social Security Administration can sometimes be tedious and confusing. That is why you need an experienced professional on your side. Contact your Social Security lawyers in Michigan to begin working on your disability case. Call Marc J. Shefman to speak to one of the most experienced Social Security lawyers in Michigan who has the dedication and knowledge to help you get the best possible outcome out of your disability case. Call (888) 282-0719 today for your consultation!